7pm- J. Martin
Genre: Singer-songwriter, Folk-rock, experimental
For fans of: Elliott Smith, Ryan Adams, Radiohead, Chad VanGaalen
Formed in 2009, the Tacoma group Oh Dear! has enjoyed local success due to their sharp, incisive songwriting and driving indie pop melodies, which drew comparisons to bands like Pedro the Lion, Bright Eyes, and Minus the Bear. As guitarist for Oh Dear!, J. Martin has had years to hone his stagecraft, and his debut EP shows the fruits of his efforts.
Awake or a Dream finds J. Martin exploring his folk-rockier side, his voice delicate and clear riding over a sturdy bed of rippling drum patter and winsomely strummed guitar. “Everything” opens the album on a melancholy note, instantly reflecting the sort of diary-entry style of songwriting that defined Oh Dear!.
The momentum of “Misery Loves Company” and the bouncy “Concrete Designs” help the album not sink into deeper sadness, buoying the album with bright instrumentation.
It's on “What Makes a Melody” that Awake or a Dream takes a turn, diverging into melodramatic Radiohead-esque territory. From then on, J. Martin seems intent on exploring and experimenting with his sound, journeying into areas of gentle psychedelia. Album closer “Don't You” is the most explicitly experimental, swallowing J. Martin up in a wash of reverb and echo, growing deeper and swirling faster as it marches off into the distance.
It's a compelling moment for J. Martin—and if Awake or a Dream is as much a transitional album as it seems, then this moment may help to telegraph the direction in which J. Martin may continue in the future. At this point, the sky's the limit.
http://store.swoonrecords.com/album/awake-or-a-dream
http://jmartinmusic.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-Martin/450135158398499#
8pm- Brian E
Genre: indie/alternative
For fans of: Ted Leo, Spoon, Big Star, Ben Folds
Normally, we can find Brian E. in the middle of a rock and roll frenzy being cooked up by his New Jersey-based band, The Paper Jets. But sometimes - not often - he chooses to sling an acoustic guitar across his shoulder and kick it solo.
With a new EP set for release next year, Brian is road-testing some new material, seeing how fine the water just might be on the other side of the spectrum. He loves taking requests (even if he can only bang out a few bars). Christine McVie is his favorite member of Fleetwood Mac. In between gigs, he likes to play Jenga and read trashy romance novels. So when Brian takes his guitar for a swing through your town, go ahead and yell out a song you want to hear. He's not going to promise anything, but he'll try.
Thepaperjets.com
Facebook.com/thepaperjets
9pm- Cornell Bros.
Genre: Original Acoustic American Roots Music
For fans of: Bluegrass, The Band, The Stanley Brothers, CSNY, Walt Whitman
Original songs of redemption and hope, featuring farmers, sailors, dancers, fathers, lovers, Abraham Lincoln and The Knights Templar. Denizens of Brooklyn's South Slope, the Cornell Bros. (not brothers in fact, but brothers in music) have been playing NYC for three years, developing their soulful take on founder and songwriter Greg Cornell's tunes, with tight vocal harmonies in front. Many instruments will show up at their gigs: fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, upright bass, harmonica, sometimes lap steel and piano, as well as a pared down drum kit that helps them rock and roll. They bring energy and joy to their musical sojourn.
reverbnation.com/cornellbros
myspace.com/gregoryncornell
10pm- Torn Shorts
"Torn Shorts, a young indie/folk/blues band from Providence, displaying a talent for borrowing and breaking-in the classic sounds of American music: Cobain's water chorus, Dylan's half-spoken plea, Muddy Waters' howled licks." -Freya Wilcox, NYC Feast of Music
"Torn Shorts is made of simple chords and deceptively simple lyrics. But they paint a picture of Americana music pure and true to the area they call home.” -Bradley Campbell, Rhode Island Public Radio
Our first full band album - mixed and mastered by John Mailloux at Bongo Beach Productions is coming out next month. John has worked with some really awesome bands (Dispatch, Guster, Duke Robillard) so we were really pumped to get to work with him. The songs sound great. Check out a track from the album on our website: www.tornshortsmusic.com.
Torn Shorts is Josh Grabert (guitar, vocals), Nick Molak (guitar), Zach Zarcone (bass), Brendan Tompkins (drums). They live and play music in Providence, RI.
